Prof. Renu John, PhD
Professor & Head, Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad

Prof. Renu John is a distinguished researcher in optics and biomedical engineering with a PhD from IIT Delhi. He has held research positions at Duke University and the University of Illinois before joining IIT Hyderabad, where he has served as Professor and Head of Biomedical Engineering. As a Co-Founder and Head of the Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship (CfHE) at IIT Hyderabad, he has been instrumental in driving healthcare innovation, focusing on affordable and impactful solutions for India’s medical needs. His expertise spans optics, photonics, and biomedical technology, shaping advancements in healthcare engineering.

Dr. Alex C Varghese, MSc, PhD
Group Scientific Director

Dr. Alex C Varghese is the Group Scientific Director for Fertility Associates in New Zealand, Malaysia, and Thailand. With over 28 years of experience, he specializes in cleanroom IVF designs, stress-free embryo culture systems, and integrating AI and automation into precision embryology. A prolific author and co-editor of 10 books in ART, he has contributed significantly to male infertility research, including extensive experience with micro-TESE for ICSI. A past president of ACE-India and an executive committee member of CFAS, Dr. Varghese is dedicated to ethical IVF practices, quality management, and making fertility care more accessible.

Col (Dr) Sandeep Karunakaran
Senior Consultant, Apollo Fertility

Col (Dr) Sandeep Karunakaran is a distinguished Reproductive Medicine Specialist and Embryologist with over 25 years of service in the Indian Army, where he was honored with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation for meritorious service. A graduate and postgraduate of the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, he has extensive expertise in both clinical and embryological aspects of fertility treatment. He led the team that performed India’s first ovarian cortex transplantation and has a keen interest in oncofertility, stem cell research, and integrating AI into reproductive medicine. A recognized professor and examiner, he has contributed extensively to national and international publications and serves as the Associate Editor of Human Reproductive Sciences. With additional qualifications in hospital management, medical law, and business management, he is committed to advancing accessible and ethical fertility care.

Dr. Lotte B Stroebech
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and PhD

A pioneer in reproductive biotechnology, Dr. Lotte Stroebech developed the world’s first commercial serum-free media for animal IVF, now a global market leader. As the founder of ARTSMedia and a former professor, she has guided international research, secured over €7 million in funding, and remains dedicated to advancing high-quality, reliable IVF media for human reproduction.

Prof. Kanna Jayaprakasan, MD, DNB, FRCOG, PhD
Fertility Unit Lead & Consultant in Reproductive Medicine

Prof. Kanna Jayaprakasan is a renowned fertility specialist and honorary professor at the University of Nottingham. He leads the Fertility Unit at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton and serves as an IVF consultant at CARE Fertility, Nottingham. With expertise in assisted conception, reproductive endocrinology, and advanced pelvic ultrasound, his PhD focused on ovarian reserve assessment using 3D ultrasound. A prolific researcher with over 100 peer-reviewed publications, he has co-edited several key textbooks in reproductive medicine. Prof. Jayaprakasan has served on the UK’s NICE fertility guideline committee and is currently an editor for leading reproductive medicine journals, contributing significantly to the advancement of fertility care.

Dr. Varsha Samson Roy, MBBS, MD (O&G), MCE (Singapore)
Scientific Director, Birla Fertility & IVF & BabyScience IVF Clinics

Dr. Varsha Samson Roy is a highly experienced embryologist and fertility specialist with over two decades in the field and more than 10,000 IVF cases handled. She pioneered In Vitro Maturation (IVM) in India and led Karnataka’s first successful vitrification and PGS-NGS births. With an MD in O&G and a Master’s in Clinical Embryology from Singapore, she blends expertise in both clinical and laboratory aspects of ART. A past President of ACE India and an esteemed researcher, she has contributed extensively to reproductive medicine through publications, editorial roles, and collaborations with IISc. Her commitment to innovation and education continues to shape the future of IVF in India.

Dr. Akash Agarwal, MBBS, MSc
Scientific Director

Dr. Akash Agarwal is a Male Fertility Specialist and Embryologist at Hegde Fertility, Hyderabad, specializing in male infertility evaluation, embryo freezing, and blastocyst transfer. He holds an MBBS from Osmania Medical College and a Master’s in Human Reproduction and Embryology from IVI Spain. A passionate expert in advanced ART techniques, he topped the ESHRE Clinical Embryology Exam in Vienna (2019). With a strong commitment to innovation and research in reproductive medicine, he continues to contribute to the field through clinical expertise and academic engagement.

Sanketh Dhumal Satya
M.Sc (Genetics), M.Sc (Clinical Embryology), ECE, EMPH (Ph.D.)

Dr. Sanketh Dhumal Satya is a Senior Embryologist & Cluster Manager at Apollo Fertility and a Consultant Embryologist at Hegde Fertility, Hyderabad. He also serves as an Assistant Professor and Course Coordinator at KSHEMA, Nitte University. An Executive Committee Member of ACE India and a key contributor to iHERA, he is actively involved in research, academic mentoring, and journal editorial work. Recognized as a Hall of Fame Embryologist by Economic Times Health World (2023) and Best Embryologist at the Karnataka Educational Awards (2023)

Dr. Fadi Choucair, PhD

Dr. Fadi serves as the Scientific Manager and Lead Clinical Embryologist at Sidra Medical and Research Center, Qatar. He is an ESHRE-certified Senior Embryologist with 15 years of professional experience in the field. Dr. Choucair also chairs the Embryology Special Interest Group of the Middle East Fertility Society. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Translational Medicine (IF=8.4) and the Middle East Fertility Society Journal (IF=1.6). Dr. Choucair holds a Ph.D. in Transcriptomics and Reproductive Epigenetics from the University of Côte d’Azur, France.

Dr Narendra Babu Karuputhula M.Sc., Ph.D.

Narendra Babu Karuputhula, Ph.D. (2007-2011) in Reproductive Health from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, India. His Ph.D. work based on female infertility. As part of Ph.D. work, Narendra was associated with the Institute of Reproductive Medicine (IRM), Kolkata, India. His research has been published in international Reproductive journals and other ASRM/ESHRE proceedings.  Postdoctoral Research from International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT Hyderabad), India – Bioinformatics project related to computational metabolomics LIMS development.

Narendra is a Senior Embryologist at Bourn Hall Fertility Center in the UAE. He previously held Lab Director/Senior Embryologist positions leading IVF programs in India, the UAE, and the USA. He underwent national and international training programs in ART and is a member of national and international Reproductive societies.